Wednesday, January 28, 2015

I bought a sheet of masonite for a project and while drawing up the cut lines for my husband (seriously, it's best if I stay away from sharp power tools) I decided to mark out some house shapes. The original project was immediately pushed aside while I rummaged through my stash to create these...

At around 12" tall they are quite large compared to most of my work. They have a nice chunkiness to them. They make me happy to look at them :) Here's a better look at each with some notes on the supplies used.

The lovely dotty paper at the top is from G45's Times Nouveau - Deluxe Collector's Edition. The striped portion is Botanical Tea > Field of Flowers. There's a crushed bottle cap, little white buttons, cloak clasp, resin frame and Thin Fleur Dresden. The image is from this Tintypes Collage Sheet. Finally, the red square behind the quote is cut from an old hardcover book.

The background of this piece is a beautiful iridescent paper that I can't seem to find the name of. (I'm a stinker!) The bottom scalloped edge is a section of an old necklace. The butterfly in the top arch is one of those old Red Rose tea figurines. The round bobble at the top is an antique french lottery number. The arches are these bezels from Spellbinders. The image here is from Karen's Whimsyan amazing resource for collage images. The little tea charms can be found HERE and HERE

And that's it! I had a lot of fun making these and now that they're out of my system I can get down the project that got pushed out of the way... unless something exciting distracts me... which is likely...

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

I was asked to create something inspired by something on pinterest. Now, these don’t look anything like the original inspiration, but sometimes it’s just a small element, technique or idea that inspires or can be a jumping off point. In this case, the dimension that little bottom fold from the original Pinterest inspiration. I’ve folded the bottom edge of my tags to give depth and interest. The fold sort of adds a horizon point to build upon and creates tags that are extra chunky and sturdy.

Monday, January 26, 2015

There are a number of fresh and bright ideas brewing in my noggin' but they aren't quite ready yet. In the meantime I've been puttering away with scissors and glue, trying to keep the mojo going. One of my go-to projects to do while waiting for my big ideas to percolate is ATC and ATC blocks - so that is what I made...

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Some people are filled with magic words. Van Gogh spouted many lovely (and sometimes tragic) phrases "Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." Others are filled with lovely nonsense, like my childhood friends mother who would often say "Pink, pink, pink like a roosters dink!" while plucking chickens in her kitchen. It's funny the things that stick with us.

Wise words can inspire.

Phrases can stick with us forever.

Silly rhymes are ingrained and repeated for years.

Self made mantras can keep us going.

Feel free to interpret this theme any way you want! There is no wrong way to complete this challenge. The only 'requirement' is that you spend at least a few minutes focused on the theme, and create one small thing this week.

Good luck!

**You DON'T have to make something big or elaborate. This challenge is about removing the excuse "I don't have time" and dedicating few minutes to being creative. It's also about giving value to, and recognizing, creativity and inspiration in all it's forms. A poem, photograph, idea list, ATC, doodle, inchie, sketch, card, painting, inspiration board, altered something-or-other... ANYTHING you create from scratch with the theme in mind is a success. **

Saturday, January 24, 2015

This piece has been sitting in my craft room for eons. I see it all the time and keep meaning to gussy it up... but life always gets in the way. So this weeks challenge, to utilize your stash, was a perfect opportunity to finally do something with this hunk-o-wood just for me.

A bit of glitter, some paint and starry tinsel and ta-da....

Cute as buttons!

This weeks lesson? Often, little 'just for fun' projects get pushed out of the way. Every once in a while remember to do one of those 'back burner' projects. Check your stash and do that thing you've been putting off for a year. Those fun frivolous projects are important! They get your hands dirty and you'll feel great about checking something off of your never-ending, ever-growing 'to-do' list.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Your challenge this week is to create something, anything, from your "stash". Go rummaging! Dig deep into your collection of hoarded goods. This is the perfect time to get to work on the little project you've been putting off forever. OR profess your love to your stash of glues and glitters through rhyming verse. Show off your magnificent stash of neatly folded fabrics through photographs! The only rule this week is that you cannot buy anything new. You must create and celebrate what you already have on hand.

You can do it! I know you can :)

**You DON'T have to make something big or elaborate. This challenge is about removing the excuse "I don't have time" and dedicating few minutes to being creative. It's also about giving value to, and recognizing, creativity and inspiration in all it's forms. A poem, photograph, idea list, ATC, doodle, inchie, sketch, card, painting, inspiration board, altered something-or-other... ANYTHING you create from scratch with the theme in mind is a success. **

... then I altered a series of cards with the romanitcal lusty theme to fit inside.

The cards themselves are distressed and then have fitting snippets from old books added.

I then added some wax and embedded glitter, stars and small heart shaped beads.

I love the way the wax gives a cloudy, dreamy quality to the pieces.

On these cards I've simply used regular candle wax but it has it's drawbacks... if your flame doesn't burn cleanly you run the risk of lampblack/soot getting into the clean wax.

Plain candle wax is actually quite brittle when dried and will easily crack so care must be take afterwards not to bend the cards. ALSO some candle wax is actually quite greasy (especially true if scented oils have been added).

Using beeswax can help you to avoid these problems. Alpha Stamps offersthese beeswax pellets which are much more pliable and resilient and are intended for arty/crafty use.

1. There was an idea that I had that used stamps... but I seem to have misplaced my stamp stash (a whole flipping tackle box!) and so that I idea was squashed.

2. Next I thought about doing a piece focusing on the many women that inspire me... but the idea was scattered and not coming together.

Then I found this picture of Picasso...

... and I knew exactly what had to happen...

P-man standing guard over the Saturday morning coffee and peanut-butter.

I wouldn't exactly call Picasso a hero. He is one of the greatest artists who has ever lived, but he was also a bit of a dick. However, I could not pass up the opportunity to make a pocket sized Pablo in tights.

So what's the lesson this week? It's okay to be silly in your work. Being silly is a valid way to explore a concept/challenge and opens the door to even more ideas. As an added bonus, it can remove fear and gives you freedom over your own work.

P.S. I watched the documentaryBlood Brother this week (it's on Netflix). Ahhhmazing! Rocky Braat is a real hero.

Friday, January 16, 2015

I've been wondering where my feathered friends have gone. The feeder was hanging half full... yet no visitors for ages. Today I went out to inspect and discovered that all that was left was dried corn which was clogging the holes. I felt badly for not realizing sooner so set out a feast this morning. In no time at all my friends returned.

We're located on a migratory path and see a lot of different birds here. It's lovely to see four or five totally different birds sharing the goods. Sometimes they get a bit bossy and dive bomb one another, but mostly everyone gets along.

Yellow birds in winter are like a wisp of summer.

The bird above is one of my very favourites, a dark-eyed junco. They prefer scattered seed over the feeder and enjoy the spoils that fall from the feeder.

The sweet girl above is a downy woodpecker. You can tell her apart from the boys because she is missing a patch of red feathers at the back of her head.

Everyone was having a grand time and having their fill until this cheeky thing came bounding along.

I've been watching a family of squirrels poking in and out of a hole in the tippy top of one of our old black locust trees. Lucky for him they've been entertaining or else I would have shooed him away.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

I'm sure I've asked this before: Have you ever seen the movie Amelie? It’s wonderful, and filled with so many delightful little details. Many of those little details were from a journal that directorJean-Pierre Jeunet, used to keep. A collection of things that made him happy. I’ve wanted my own collection of nice things ever since. And so, my new years resolution is to take special notice of lovely things.

Using an inexpensive coil bound notebook and Graphic 45's Once Upon a Springtime, I’ve created a special place for my collection. It has loads of pockets where bits and pieces can be tucked away… but it’s also practically embellished so that I can toss it in my purse.

Although I may not have gone over the top with embellishments, I think every snip ofOnce Upon a Springtime is cute as buttons.

When not making notes it closes up tight and is secured with a length of jute affixed with a brad on the spine. It has quickly become my favourite book to write nice things inside :)

To make your own, I've created a snapguideHEREto help you. Don't let the number of steps put you off, a few of them doubled for clarity sake.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

I've been a total slacker this week. I don't know if it's the weather, or maybe recovery from the holidays, or I'm just burnt out, but I haven't felt like doing much other than veg on the couch and watch foreign horror films.

I dragged my bum up to my crafty cocoon last night and created a few little collages...

First this little girl in the wind. The image of the gal is from The Graphics Fairy, a great resource for free images. That greenish paper in the background has a beautiful iridescent quality... I wish I had bought more of it because I don't think it's available any longer. The little striped bit by her feet is a lovely thin Red & Cream Stripes Paper Tape*

Below is my favourite of the bunch.

I like how serene and surreal it is. I like the colour pallet too, it's like a dream. Warning: I'm about to sound pretenious... I like the spacial quality, the economy of embellishment most of all

And then the moon. Sometimes I sit and chop out words and phrases from discarded books then peice them back together into phrases... sort of like little poems. It's a lovely exercise.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Have you always wanted to be a super hero? Maybe you know a real life hero? This week take a few minutes to create one little thing with a 'hero' theme.

Design a super hero costume, write a list of essential utility belt gadgets, take a photo of your every day hero. There is no incorrect way to complete this task. The important thing is to focus and think creatively about the theme... and enjoy yourself!

**You DON'T have to make something big or elaborate. This challenge is about removing the excuse "I don't have time" and dedicating few minutes to being creative. It's also about giving value to, and recognizing, creativity and inspiration in all it's forms. A poem, photograph, idea list, ATC, doodle, inchie, sketch, card, painting, inspiration board, altered something-or-other... ANYTHING you create from scratch with the theme in mind is a success. **

Saturday, January 10, 2015

For my own 'one little thing' for last weeks challenge, I created this ATC...

I started out doing a few sketches and making some notes while my kid was at curling practice. I had thought about doing a British Victorian card with a lamp post and carriage. Then maybe a sort of art nouveau inspired something. I also toyed with a 70's theme.

But this is what I ended up with... wanting to create something with the feeling of a past era but my heart kept being tugged by the little French bits in my stash. A tiny nod to the French and a little 'Je suis Charlie' I suppose.

The lesson this week? It's ok to go off track. Just because I didn't follow through with those first ideas doesn't invalidate them. They're still there, waiting for another opportunity to be used.

Thursday, January 08, 2015

Graphic 45 has been revealing their sneak peeks and I was lucky enough to get my hands on them early and create with their new product line-up. Hop over totheir blog to see all of the new goods (some seriously cool stuff there!). Here's my first project with their new goodies :)

Browsing the pages of the Precious Memories collection for inspiration, I sort of fell in love with image of the little boy and his rabbit. The fellow with the curls nuzzling his stuffed bunny reminded me of my son when he was toddling around with 'Mr. Elephant' (don’t tell him I told you that!) I still have that little elephant. It’s tucked somewhere, not completely away, so that I stumble across it once in a while, causing memories to flood back.

For this piece I created a little needle felted bunny, just like the one in the image, to create a sense that that moment had actually existed. Don’t be frightened off by that little woolen bunny! This little sentimental vignette would be even sweeter created with a real photograph and small childhood memento.

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

The last couple of weeks have been a blur of activity. Besides the Christmas/New Year hub-bub, I've been working madly on design team projects and things for other people. If I'm honest, I'm tired and feeling a bit worn down. I need a few quiet demand-less days to rejuvenate my head and heart.

BUT I do have a project to share from the holidays. My handmade gift to my kidlet... a needlefelted Sasquatch.

I was lazing on the couch watching the telly when I saw him scurry across the sunshiny window sill. At first I thought I was seeing things but when the dog started whimpering in his sleep, he stood still for just a moment and looked on curiously.

When the dog finished making his sleepy noises, the creature turned his head to me and gave a grunt, as if to say "What are you looking at?" Then quick as a flash he climbed up into our Christmas tree!

Over the next few days I tried to coax him out with treats of peanut butter and apple slices... but he refused to pose so I could only capture a few blurry images.

Now that the tree is down he's a bit easier to shoot. He sulks around my studio looking for a hidey hole to make his home and Christmas cookie crumbs to eat.

I've told him I'll make him a spot inside the pantry and he can have his fill of nibbles but he likes being difficult. I can tell you with certainty that "Harry and the Henderson's" is not an accurate depiction of a Bigfoot. Our pygmy squatch is a difficult little diva and a smidge rude too!

Sunday, January 04, 2015

I strongly believe that creativity breeds itself. The more you do and make, the more ideas and inspiration will follow. And so, every Sunday I'll be posting a creative prompt, a challenge for you to spend just a few moments being creative over the following week.You DON'T have to make something big or elaborate. This challenge is about removing the excuse "I don't have time" and dedicating few minutes to being creative. It's also about giving value to, and recognizing, creativity and inspiration in all it's forms. A poem, photograph, idea list, ATC, doodle, inchie, sketch, card, painting, inspiration board, altered something-or-other... ANYTHING you create from scratch with the theme in mind is a success. This week's prompt is "Era"You're challenge this week is to explore a favourite time period. The roaring 20's, groovy 70's, Victorian, Roman, wild west... the future. It's all fair game.You may want to think about what appeals to you about certain eras. What are the colours, themes, textures, images, vocabulary, and events that shape that period?Remember, there is no wrong interpretation... the only thing that matters is that you spend a few moments focused on, and exploring, creatively.Good luck! and have fun :)